Previous Stiletto Contest Winners and Finalists
(note: 1st contest was held in 2004 and there was no Stiletto Contest in 2006)
Stiletto Winners 2012
Single Title
(Judged by editor Laura Fazio of Penguin, essay writer Chelsea M. Gilmore of Write My Essay For Me agency and E-Publisher Jennifer Miller of Samhain)
1. A MARRYING MAN by Jennifer Marcoullier (full request by
2. NEW THIRTY by Amanda Martinez (partial request by
3. IT’S NOT MY THIGHS, IT’S JUST BAD LIGHTING by Vicki Wilson (partial request by
Women’s Fiction
(Judged by editor Emily Beth Rapoport of Berkley, agent Victoria Sanders of Victoria Sanders & Associates and E-Publisher Kimberlee Williams of Vanilla Heart Publishing)
1. THE DAY THE MERRY-GO-ROUND STOPPED by Orly Konig-Lopez
2. NICK & CATHY and ROXANNE by Marsha Nuccio (full request by
3. DASHBOARD BUDDAH by Amanda Martinez
Mystery/Suspense
(Judged by editor Kathleen Gilligan of St. Martin’s, agent Bernadette Baker-Baughman of Victoria Sanders & Associates and E-Publisher Raelene Gorlinsky of Ellora’s Cave)
1. WOULD I LIE TO YOU? by Renata Hill (full request by )
2. MURDER, CURLERS, and CRUISES by Arlene McFarlane
3. MURDER, CURLERS, and CANES by Arlene McFarlane
Paranormal
(Judged by editor Ann Leslie Tuttle of Harlequin, agent Amy Boggs of Donald Maass Literary Agency and E-Publisher Abby Rose of Lyrical Press)
1. DIVIDE AND CONQUER by Carmen Fox
2. ALIVE LIKE FIRE by Kristina Perez (partial request by
3. (Tie) DARK BRINGER by Brenda Nelson-Davis (partial request by )
3. (Tie) DARK CONQUEST by Christina Gulke
Young Adult
(Judged by editor Audrey Poole of Sourcebooks, agent Mary Kole of Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Nicole Langan of Tribute Books)
1. DEFLOWERED by Bonnie Staring
2. WARWICK HALL by Kristina Perez (revised partial request by
3. THE NEW BLACK by Deborah Branda (full request by
Louboutin Stiletto Award
(Judged by agent Lois Winston of Ashley Grayson Literary Agency)
1. NEW THIRTY by Amanda Martinez
2. A MARRYING MAN by Jennifer Marcoullier
3. DIVIDE AND CONQUER by Carmen Fox
Stiletto Winners 2011
Single Title
(Judged by editor Esi Sogah of Avon, agent Paige Wheeler of Folio Literary Management and E-Publisher Amanda Bergeron of Avon Impulse)
1. THE EX-LOTTERY by Kimberly Sanders
2. A LIFE OF PRIVILEGE by Kristy Harvey
3. DANCING NAKED IN DIXIE by Laura Reese
Women’s Fiction
(Judged by editor Junessa Viloria of Ballantine, agent Victoria Sanders of Victoria Sanders & Associates and E-Publisher Rhonda Stapleton of Carina Press)
1. CLASS REUNION by Sandra Tilley
2. LIVING ON AIR by Lucy Taylor
3. TRUST ME by Kimberly Swaak
Mystery/Suspense
(Judged by editor Toni Plummer of St. Martin’s, agent Elaine Spencer of The Knight Agency and E-Publisher Kelli Collins of Ellora’s Cave)
1. (Tie) SMALL TOWN STORM by Elise K. Ackers (partial request by e-publisher)
1. (Tie) SHADES OF GRAY by Kimberly Sanders
2. HIGH TIMES AND LOW TIPS by Terri Snethen (partial request by e-publisher)
Paranormal
(Judged by editor Leis Pederson of Berkley, agent Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Agency and E-Publisher Jennifer Miller of Samhain)
1. HARBINGER by Peta Crake
2. HEXED: DEAD VAMPIRES DON’T DATE by Meredith Allen Conner
3. CHERUP’S PLAY by Steven Moores (partial request by e-publisher)
Young Adult
(Judged by editor Leah Hultenschmidt of Sourcebooks, agent Susan Hawk of The Bent Agency, and E-Publisher Heather Howland of Entangled Publishing)
1. MY FAIR ZOMBIE by Amy Jones (full request by e-publisher)
2. BOIS CAN’T HAVE BABIES by M-E Girard
3. THE PICTURE OF DULCE GARCIA by Alana Albertson
Louboutin Stiletto Award
(Judged by agent Lois Winston of Ashley Grayson Literary Agency)
BOIS CAN’T HAVE BABIES by M-E Girard
Stiletto Winners 2010
Single Title
(Judged by editor Amanda Bergeron of Harper Collins and agent Paige Wheeler of Folio Literary)
1. A FUNNY THING HAPPENED by Kiley O’Meara (full request by agent)
2. (Tie) THE COMPANY SHE KEEPS by Barbara Chabai
2. (Tie) DESPERATELY SEEKING DARCY by Arabella Stokes
Women’s Fiction
(Judged by editor Leis Pederson of The Berkley Publishing Group and agent Scott Eagan of Greyhaus Literary)
1. TROUBLE COMES A CALLIN’ by Pina Albo (partial request by agent)
2. (Tie)DANCES WITH COUGARS by Deborah McIntyre
2. (Tie)GIRL UNDERGROUND by Joanna Strachan
Thrill
(Judged by editor Kathleen Gilligan of St. Martin’s and agent Stephanie Kip Rostan of Levin Greenberg Literary
1. DEFIANCE by P.J. O’Dwyer (full request by agent)
2. BLONDE LUCK by Sarah Parrott
3. WAITING FOR FAITH by Karen Browning
Paranormal
(Judged by editor Megan Records of Kensington and agent Chelsea M. Gilmore of Maria Carvainis Agency)
1. SPELLBOUND by Heather Leonard (full request by editor)
2. BLOOD FEST: CHASING DESTINY by L. Pepper Norris
3. THE SPLIT APART by Sarah Skuseth
Young Adult
(Judged by editor Emilia Rhodes of Simon and Schuster and agent Mandy Hubbard of D4EO)
1. IF YOU ONLY KNEW by Mia Zachary (full request by agent)
2. THE GHOST IN THE HOUSE by Lou Treleaven (full request by editor)
3. THE IN-BETWEEN by Natalie Lorenzi
Stiletto Winners 2009
Classic
(Judged by editor Claire Baldwin of Little Black Dress and agent Kate Schaefer Testerman of KT Literary)
1. HUNGOVER FOR THE HOLIDAYS (a.k.a. CHRISTMAS PARTY FOUL) by Jenny Hansson Vithayathil
2. A HEAT OF THE MOMENT THING by Karen Browning
3. (Tie) WEDDING WHISPERER by Marilyn Hilton
3. (Tie) BARBIE PILL by Lindsay Lewis
3. (Tie) ON THE REBOUND by Ellis Huse
4. HUNDRED POCKET MIRAGE by Lisa Mikitarian
Thrill
(Judged by editor Jessica Sebor of Random House and agent Holly Root of Waxman Agency)
1. JUST KIDDING by Diane Vallere
2. THE END AT RIVER’S BEND by Cathryn Pritchard
3. (Tie) I DO OR DIE by Donna Cummings (partial request by agent)
3. (Tie) WITCH EVER WAY YOU CAN by Deborah Blake
Paranormal
(Judged by editor Latoya Smith of Grand Central Publishing and agent Michelle Wolfson of Wolfson Literary)
1. WILDFIRE by Rashda Khan (partial request by editor)
2. SWITCHING SIDES by Maureen McGowan (partial request by editor)
3. NO CITIES LEFT by Lara Cory
4. KING ME by Deborah Blake
5. BLEEDING HEARTS by Ash Krafton
Young Adult
(Judged by editor Regina Griffin of Egmont USA and agent Tamar Rydzinski of Laura Dail Literary Agency)
1. LANDSCAPE OF LITTLE DRAMAS by Robin Constantine (full request by agent)
2. INTERFLUIT by Suzanne Lazear (full request by agent)
3. LIFE’S TOO SHORT by Ally Cowee
4. A DANCE IN THE RAIN by Sandi Greene
Best of the Best
(Judged by agent Lois Winston of Ashley Grayson Literary Agency)
LANDSCAPE OF LITTLE DRAMAS by Robin Constantine
Stiletto Winners 2008
Classic Chick Lit/Lady Lit
(Judged by editor Latoya Smith of Grand Central and agent Michelle Grajkowski of 3 Seas Literary Agency)
1. LOVE, LUST & LIES by Cathleen Ross (full request by both agent and editor)
2. DANCING UNDER THE STARS by Alana Albertson (full request by agent and revision request by editor)
3. EASY DOES IT by Tanya Eby Sirois
4. BEHIND CLOSED DOORS (a.k.a. TRAILER PARK QUEEN) by Elizabeth Birch Duckworth
5. MASOCHISM IS ALWAYS FUNNY by Stacy Brazalovich
Chick Thrill
(Judged by editor Megan McKeever of Pocket and agent Elaine Spencer of The Knight Agency)
1. WHISKEY REBELLION by Leah Hodge
2. A MAN TO DYE FOR by Jennifer Bianco (full request by editor)
3. THE LEGACY by Audrey Egner
4. PLEASANT LAKE PD by Kelly Fitzpatrick
Paranormal Chick Lit
(Judged by editor Callie Lynn Wolf of The Wild Rose Press and agent Christine Witthohn of Book Cents Literary Agency)
1. GUARDIAN DEVIL by Karyn Mendoza (full request by agent)
2. WITCH EVER WAY YOU CAN by Deborah Blake
3. SOMEBODY TELL AUNT TILLIE SHE’S DEAD by Christiana Miller
4. THE HOUSE OF WANNABE GHOSTS by Cally Taylor
Inspirational Chick Lit
(Judged by editor Beth Adams of Guideposts and agent Holly Root of the Waxman Agency)
1. (Tie) STAND ON MY OWN TWO HANDS by Tiffany Kinerson
1. (Tie) TWO SIDED TRUTH by Sara Richardson
3. LIGHTEN UP by Angela Meuser
4. MY NAME IS FAITH BUT I SURE DON’T HAVE ANY by Julie Scudder
Young Adult Chick Lit
(Judged by editor Anica Rissi of Simon Pulse and agent Caryn Wiseman of Andrea Brown Literary Agency)
1. SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE by Joanne Levy
2. BIG PANTIES AND OTHER PARACHUTES by Sara Tregay
3. CALL ME CRAZY by Vanessa Barneveld
4. CLOSETS ARE FOR CLOTHES by Joanne Levy
5. STAGE FRIGHT by Shoshana Brown
6. THE TOTALLY TUBULAR ADVENTURES OF CARRINGTON MORRIS by Gwen Hayes
Stiletto Winners 2007
Classic Chick Lit/Lady Lit
(Judged by editor Kathryn Lye of Red Dress Ink and agent Lois Winston of Ashley Grayson Literary Agency)
1. WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS by Joanne Levy
2. (tie) SITTING COURTSIDE by Tyunana Bailey
2. (tie) WRONGING MR. RIGHT by Deborah Nemeth
4. CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE by Annette MacPhee-Gallant
5. IS SHE ANYBODY by Julie Charles
Chick Thrill
(Judged by editor Leah Hultenschmidt of Dorchester and agent Paige Wheeler of Folio Literary Management)
1. MINNESOTA NICE by Wendy Lyn Watson (full request by editor)
2. DEAD MAN STALKING by Cathie Shaffer
3. PTA MEETINGS ARE MURDER by Kathleen Krevat
4. THEFT OF THE GOLDEN HOOHA by Babe King
5. BLUES AT 11 by Becky Martinez
Paranormal Chick Lit
(Judged by editor Anne Groell of Bantam and agent Kristin Nelson of Nelson Literary Agency)
1. DEMON MAGNET by Teresa Wilde
2. (tie) CLAIRAUDIENCE by Jennifer Bianco
2. (tie) DONT LET GO by Kim Hernandez
4. WHERE IS THE LINE by Dayna Hart
Inspirational Chick Lit
(Judged by editor Krista Stroever of Steeple Hill Cafe and agent Mary Sue Seymour of Seymour Literary Agency)
1. BREAK A LEG by Kristin Wallace (full request by agent)
2. THE HUSBAND CHECKLIST by Grace Atkinson (full request by agent)
3. DYSFUNCTION JUNCTION by April Erwin (full request by agent)
4. MIND OVER MADI by Lynda Schab (full request by agent)
Young Adult Chick Lit
(Judged by editor Kristin Daly of Harper Teen and agent Christine Witthohn of Book Cents Literary Agency)
1. SMART GIRLS DON’T WEAR PINK by Robin Reed (full request by editor)
2. THE DEAD GIRL CODE by Janet Gurtler (full request by agent)
3. THE ART OF SELLING MY SISTER by Shana Silver (full request by agent)
4. VENETIAN BLIND by Natalie Lorenzi (full request by editor)
Stiletto Winners 2005
Classic Chick Lit
(Judged by agent Stephany Evans of Imprint Literary Agency)
1. SEARCHING FOR MR. DARK-HAIRED MAN by Janet Gurtler
2. FASHIONABLY LATE by Nadine Dajani
3. STARS IN HER EYES by Chandra Years
4. FALLING UPHILL by Wendy Tokunaga
5. STRAIGHT STALK by Tera Lynn Childs
Chick Thrill
(Judged by editor Kristen Weber of Warner)
1. DEAD PERFECT by G.M. Mailliet
2. PTA MEETINGS ARE MURDER by Rebecca Hofman
3. FRUIT FLIES AND SKINNY BITCHES by Kathy Krevat
Paranormal Chick Lit
(Judged by editor Natasha Panza of TOR)
1. ACCORDING TO JANE by Marilyn Weigel
2. HAUNTED by Catherine Pegau
3. EN GARDE by Kathryn Taylor
Stiletto Winners 2004
Light Lit
(Judged by editor Kelly Harms of Avon and agent Paige Wheeler of Creative Media Agency)
1. ABOVE THE LINE by Eleanor Brown
2. VIVA LAS VEGAS by Robin Flury
3. LED ASTRAY by Robyn Enlund
4. STRAIGHT FROM THE TAP by Jill Lawrence
HM: EYE CANDY by Tera Lynn Childs
Lady Lit
(Judged by editor Laura Cifelli of NAL and agent Stephanie Kip Rosten of Levine/Greenberg Literary Agency)
1. THE VOICE by Esri Albritten
2. KICK START by Caren Helms
3. HOW TO KILL THE OTHER WOMAN by Bridget Stuart
4. (tie) CAKE ICING, BUTT PASTE AND TEA LIDS by Kelley Zeringue
4. (tie) FLIP FLOPS by Wendy Toliver
HM. CHERRY SLURPEE TO GO by Angela Binner
Mystery Lit
(Judged by editor Kathryn Lye of Red Dress Ink and agent Rachel Vater of The Donald Maass Literary Agency)
1. UNCLAIMED MONEY by Deborah Clawson Johnson
2. SPYING IN HIGH HEELS by Robin Flury
3. DEADLY FARCE by Jennifer McAndrews
4. BLINDERS by Lisa Hughey-Underwood
HM:. DOWN TIME by Diana Rowe
Chick Lit on the Edge
(Judged by editor Karen Kosztolnyik of Warner and agent Erica Orloff of The Poynor Group)
1. RIDING WITH LARRY RESNICK by Jessica Riley
2. MISCONCEPTIONS by Kathleen Millerhaller
3. FAMILY TREE by Corbette Doyle
4. GONE WITH THE SPLEEN by Jill Lawrence
HM. HUGGING BUBBLES by Teryl Myers Hager
HM. FALLING UNDER by Danielle Younge-Ullman
YA Chicks
(Judged by editor Kate Seaver of Dorchester and agent Michelle Grajkowski of Three Seas Literary Agency)
1. HOW TO RUIN A SUMMER VACATION IN 3 SHORT MONTHS by Simone Elkeles
2. CHASING PUBERTY by Kimberly Duffy
3. I SO DON’T DO MYSTERIES by Barrie Summy
4. THE SECRET LIFE OF AMBER HICKENTBOTTOM by Heather Koenig
HM: SUMMERSTORM by Darcy Vance
